Explore what East Africa has in offer only on this special 15 days Uganda-Rwanda safari. This package is one of a kind that you need to book in this particular part of Africa as it offers you a great opportunity to wind through the dense rainforests of Uganda and Rwanda in search of the rare mountain gorillas, chimpanzees as well as catch a glimpse at numerous savanna grassland dwellers and aquatic life while on game drive and boat cruise, explore the exceptional and world’s powerful hot springs, spot out many birds and several other remarkable natural wonders that make this region unique from other parts of Africa. Your 15 days Uganda Rwanda safari starts and ends in Uganda.
Day 1: Travel to Jinja for white water rafting
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 3: Morning game drive and boat cruise
Day 4: Drive to Semuliki Valley National Park
Day 5: Explore the Sempaya hot springs
Day 6: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park and go for afternoon chimpanzee tracking
Day 7: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 8: Game viewing and launch cruise
Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking at Kyambura gorge and transfer to Bwindi National Park
Day 10: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
Day 11: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 12: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 13: Second gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 14: Drive back to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 15: Morning game drive and return to Kampala
Day 1: Travel to Jinja for white water rafting
After breakfast, set off to eastern side of Uganda to Jinja about 1-2 hours’ drive away from Kampala city center. Drive via Namugongo martyrs shrine and have a bit of religious tourism. En-route, make a stopover at Mabira forest which is one of Uganda’s most significant birding spots and one of a few remaining blocks of tropical rainforests in the country then proceed to Jinja-a true adrenaline adventure capital of East Africa. Remarkably, it is here where the source of the mighty Nile lies and on arrival, get yourself ready for life changing adventure in its waters while on exciting white water rafting. While here, you will have the best of your raft as the rafters take you through the challenging rapids. First, professionals will demonstrate it for and then it will be your turn to check yourself. After your thrilling white water rafting experience, return to hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Nile Hotel or Sunset Hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Begin your day with a hot cup of tea or coffee and after, head off to northwestern side of Uganda to Murchison Falls National Park-Uganda’s largest national park. Make a stopover in Kampala for lunch and after, proceed for a 4-5 hours’ drive to Murchison Falls National Park via Kampala-Luweero-Masindi route. En-route, make a stopover at Ziwa rhino sanctuary or simply head straight to the top of the falls for amazing experience of the roaring waterfalls. After, return to the lodge for rest, dinner and overnight stay at Paraa safari lodge/Nile safari camp or Red chili camp.
Day 3: Morning game drive and boat cruise
Get up early in the morning to enjoy your delicious breakfast and after, head off to the delta circuit-the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park for the early morning game drive. On a game drive, have a chance to catch a glimpse at savanna grassland dwellers such as lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, Rothschild giraffes, defassa waterbucks, Oribis, Uganda kobs, Jackson’s hartebeest, birds including the shoebill stork, Abyssinian ground hornbill, egrets a mention but a few. After, return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation then embark on afternoon boat trip to the base of Murchison falls. While on a boat cruise, you have the best views over the hippos, crocodiles, water bids and the stunning riverine vegetation at the edge of the Nile. Later, return to the lodge for rest, dinner and overnight stay at Paraa safari lodge/Nile safari camp or Red chili camp.
Day 4: Drive to Semuliki Valley National Park
After breakfast, set off to Semuliki National Park about 8 hours or more. Make a stopover at Hoima for lunch. Along the way, catch a glimpse at the scenic Albertine area and on arrival check in at Semuliki safari lodge/Rwenzori Guest view house where you will have overnight stay. After relaxation, embark on night game drive for you to sight at the small genet and serval cats as well as many night dwellers. After, return to the lodge for relaxation.
Day 5: Explore the Sempaya hot springs
Have breakfast early in the morning and after, embark on a short guided trail around Ntandi-the Sempaya hot springs. While here, you will have the best of this bubbling hot springs and even do some experiment by dipping an egg or a banana to prove what others could have told you or read about this powerful hot spring. Later, relax and then head off for boat trip along Lake Albert where you will catch a glimpse at hippos, birds and others. After, return to the lodge for overnight stay. The other alternative is for you to pay a visit to Semuliki wildlife reserve one of the oldest reserves Uganda has and home to several primates such as olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys as well as Uganda kobs, buffaloes, elephants and others. Dinner and overnight stay at Semuliki safari lodge.
Day 6: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park and go for afternoon chimpanzee tracking
Start your day with breakfast and after, embark on a road trip to Kibale Forest National Park western Uganda. On arrival, have some rest and in the afternoon, gather at Kanyanchu visitor center for briefing on dos and don’ts for chimpanzee tracking. Besides chimpanzees, you also have a chance to sight at varied primate that make up 13 distinct primate species at this park including the red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoest monkeys, red colobus monkeys and others. After, return to lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Primate Lodge/Ndali Lodge/Crater valley resort.
Day 7: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Today, you will have breakfast and after check out from the lodge ready to set off to Queen Elizabeth National Park about 3 to 4 hours’ drive. On arrival, check in at Mweya safari lodge/Simba safari lodge or Mweya hostel. After relaxation and lunch, set off for game drive in the afternoon where you will spot out savanna dwellers like elephants, warthogs, antelopes, buffaloes and many birds.
Day 8: Game viewing and launch cruise
Enjoy your tasty cup of tea or coffee and then embark on early morning game drive to Kasenyi track. This sector is rich in wildlife species and while on game drive, you will spot out elephants, bush bucks, Uganda kobs, defassa waterbucks, buffaloes as well as many birds. After your 2 to 3 hours game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation then in the afternoon, be part of the exciting boat trip to Kazinga channel where you will catch a glimpse at many hippos, crocodiles, water birds including the malachite kingfishers, flamingos, red chest, papyrus gonoleks, pink backed pelicans, water thick knee, yellow billed stork, shoebill stork a mention but a few. Later return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Mweya safari lodge/Simba safari lodge/Bush lodge
Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking at Kyambura gorge and transfer to Bwindi National Park
This day takes you through chimpanzee tracking but this time round in Kyambura gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park and this will be after your breakfast. After the 1 hour of magical encounter, return to the lodge to check out then drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Upon arrival, check in at Buhoma lodge/Chameleon hill lodge (luxury), Buhoma Community Bandas/Gorilla forest camp for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10: Mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park
After breakfast, it is time to make your dream come true in Africa! You will gather at your respective trail head in Bwindi for morning briefing on gorilla trekking rules and regulations from park official. With your trekking gears ready and some packed snacks plus bottled water, hit the jungles after the briefing in a group of 8 visitors with park ranger guide. The trek may last you about 2-8 hours depending on your hiking speed, nature of the habitat and location of gorillas. On getting a group that is assigned to you, spend an hour to have a face to face encounter with these dramatic creatures, take as many photos as possible and explore their behaviors. After, return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight stay at Buhoma lodge/Chameleon hill lodge/Buhoma Community Bandas/Gorilla forest camp
Day 11: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Enjoy your hot cup of tea or coffee and after, embark on long trip to Rwanda. En-route make a stopover at Kigali capital for a quick city tour where you will pay a visit to Kigali genocide memorial center. After, proceed to Volcanoes National Park about 2-3 hours’ drive and on arrival check in at Gorilla nest hotel/Bisate lodge/Kinigi guesthouse for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Following the early morning breakfast, you will join other visitors at the park headquarters for morning briefing still on gorilla trekking rules and regulations. The same rules do apply here and after, you hit the thick rainforest to search for a group of these magnificent creatures. The trek may take you about 6 hours or more depending on a number of factors like your hiking speed, nature of habitat and where gorillas can be found in the course of the day. After, magical encounters, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Gorilla nest lodge/Mountain gorilla view lodge/Bisate lodge/Kinigi guesthouse
Day 13: Second gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Today, after a cup of tea or coffee, you will once more embark on gorilla trekking for the second time in Volcanoes National Park but in a different habituated family for you to learn more about interesting things you never explored the previous day. After, return to the lodge to relax, have dinner and overnight stay as you wait to return to Uganda the next day. Dinner and overnight stay at Gorilla nest lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate lodge/Kinigi guesthouse
Day 14: Drive back to Lake Mburo National Park
Early in the morning, you will have breakfast at your respective lodge and after, check out ready to cross the border area back to Uganda but first to Lake Mburo National Park. You will make a stopover at Mbarara for lunch and after, proceed to the park for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Mantana tented camp/Mihingo lodge or Rwonyo camp.
Day 15: Morning game drive and return to Kampala
Start your day with breakfast and after, head off for early morning game drive to look out for impalas as they confine themselves salty areas as well as many zebras, water bucks, elands, lions, topis, sitatunga, birds a mention but a few. After, have some rest and lunch then embark on 4 hours’ drive back to Kampala and this marks the end of your 15 days Uganda Rwanda safari.
End of safari
Safari inclusions
Transport in a 4WD and English speaking driver guide
Gorilla permit-($1500 in Rwanda, $600 in Uganda)
The activities in the itinerary
Bottled water
Park entrance fees
Accommodation for 14 nights and meals
Safari exclusions
Airfares
Personal insurance
Personal expenses like tips, laundry, telephone calls, accommodation and activities outside the travel plan, alcoholic drinks and many more.
Visa fees
